ANN ARBOR, MI — Federal agents allege a 42-year-old man charged with the robbery of an Ann Arbor bank has confessed to similar holdups in Bay and Saginaw counties.

In a criminal complaint contained in federal court records, an FBI special agent alleges that James W. Brackenbury admitted to robbing FirstMerit Bank, 2570 Center Ave. in Hampton Township on June 27; Sunrise Family Credit Union, 404 S. Euclid Ave. in Bangor Township on July 5; and a Fifth Third Bank in Ann Arbor on July 24. The agent alleges Brackenbury also said he perpetrated an attempted holdup of Community State Bank, 8412 Main St. in Birch Run on July 3, though he obtained no money in that incident.

In each instance, witnesses and surveillance footage indicated the robber brandished a handgun at bank tellers when demanding they give him cash.

Ann Arbor police arrested Brackenbury at a Lansing-area Courtyard by Marriott on Saturday, July 27, based on a tip. Court records do not indicate his permanent address.

Brackenbury was in possession of crack cocaine and a crack pipe at the time of his arrest, the affadavit alleges.

Once in custody, Brackenbury allegedly told investigators he used a BB gun in the incidents and that he acted alone.

Brackenbury has been charged federally with one count of bank robbery, stemming from the Ann Arbor holdup, said Kevin Mulcahy of the U.S. Attorney's Office, who is prosecuting the case. Additional charges could be forthcoming in connection to the other robberies, Mulcahy said.

A preliminary examination has been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 12.